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Muhammad Ali. Arguably the greatest sportsman of the 20th Century, a hero to millions and a bona fide living legend.
The trouble with icons, however, is the fact that we get a bit precious about them, and if you’re making a movie about Ali, then you’d better get it right.
The greatest, most charismatic fighter of them all is going to need someone pretty special to do him justice. Admit it - Will Smith as Ali? Weren’t you kind of worried? A bit sceptical? Could the Fresh Prince really become King?
Director Michael Mann (who directed such films as Heat and The Insider) thought so. He had a definite agenda in his approach to the movie - wishing to neither take the docu-drama route or to idealize Ali, but to tell the story, as it was, through the eyes of Ali and those around him.
The film concentrates on the period between 1964-1974, beginning with Ali’s surprise ‘whooping’ of Sonny Liston, taking in his conversion to the Muslim faith, and his refusal to be drafted for the Vietnam War, and culminating in the infamous ‘Rumble in the Jungle’.
We truly get to see the measure of the man. Ali was a supreme fighter in the ring and, in some ways, a greater one out of it, taking on a US Government genuinely afraid of the power Ali had in relationship to the burgeoning black power and Civil Rights movements of the time.
Will Smith has done an incredible job of becoming Ali, beginning the transformation a full year before shooting commenced, he undertook a punishing training scheme that would see him gain 30 pounds and truly turn him into a fighter. Along with the physical demands of the role, Smith also had to master Ali’s distinctive speech patterns and mannerisms. This may seem like method gone mad, but has paid off handsomely. The movie and Smith getting the endorsement of Ali himself.
Overall, Ali is a very accomplished film, giving a reasonably rounded view of both Ali’s public and private personas and the attention to detail, particularly of the period, is impressive. Smith has captured the essence of the man beautifully, being superb in the scenes where he banters with sports commentator Howard Cossel, but exceptional in the ring. The fights are very enthralling, shot with panache and a true sense of the main event about them, Smith managing to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, seemingly taking on Ali’s style effortlessly.
Along with the talents of a very strong supporting cast, this film is a fitting tribute to a truly great man.
It’s a Knockout film, you must see it.
Thanks for reading.
The trouble with icons, however, is the fact that we get a bit precious about them, and if you’re making a movie about Ali, then you’d better get it right.
The greatest, most charismatic fighter of them all is going to need someone pretty special to do him justice. Admit it - Will Smith as Ali? Weren’t you kind of worried? A bit sceptical? Could the Fresh Prince really become King?
Director Michael Mann (who directed such films as Heat and The Insider) thought so. He had a definite agenda in his approach to the movie - wishing to neither take the docu-drama route or to idealize Ali, but to tell the story, as it was, through the eyes of Ali and those around him.
The film concentrates on the period between 1964-1974, beginning with Ali’s surprise ‘whooping’ of Sonny Liston, taking in his conversion to the Muslim faith, and his refusal to be drafted for the Vietnam War, and culminating in the infamous ‘Rumble in the Jungle’.
We truly get to see the measure of the man. Ali was a supreme fighter in the ring and, in some ways, a greater one out of it, taking on a US Government genuinely afraid of the power Ali had in relationship to the burgeoning black power and Civil Rights movements of the time.
Will Smith has done an incredible job of becoming Ali, beginning the transformation a full year before shooting commenced, he undertook a punishing training scheme that would see him gain 30 pounds and truly turn him into a fighter. Along with the physical demands of the role, Smith also had to master Ali’s distinctive speech patterns and mannerisms. This may seem like method gone mad, but has paid off handsomely. The movie and Smith getting the endorsement of Ali himself.
Overall, Ali is a very accomplished film, giving a reasonably rounded view of both Ali’s public and private personas and the attention to detail, particularly of the period, is impressive. Smith has captured the essence of the man beautifully, being superb in the scenes where he banters with sports commentator Howard Cossel, but exceptional in the ring. The fights are very enthralling, shot with panache and a true sense of the main event about them, Smith managing to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, seemingly taking on Ali’s style effortlessly.
Along with the talents of a very strong supporting cast, this film is a fitting tribute to a truly great man.
It’s a Knockout film, you must see it.
Thanks for reading.
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Muhammad Ali. Arguably the greatest sportsman of the 20th Century, a hero to millions and a bona fide living legend.
The trouble with icons, however, is the fact that we get a bit precious about them, and if you’re making a movie about Ali, then you’d better get it right.
The greatest, most charismatic fighter of them all is going to need someone pretty special to do him justice. Admit it - Will Smith as Ali? Weren’t you kind of worried? A bit sceptical? Could the Fresh Prince really become King?
Director Michael Mann (who directed such films as Heat and The Insider) thought so. He had a definite agenda in his approach to the movie - wishing to neither take the docu-drama route or to idealize Ali, but to tell the story, as it was, through the eyes of Ali and those around him.
The film concentrates on the period between 1964-1974, beginning with Ali’s surprise ‘whooping’ of Sonny Liston, taking in his conversion to the Muslim faith, and his refusal to be drafted for the Vietnam War, and culminating in the infamous ‘Rumble in the Jungle’.
We truly get to see the measure of the man. Ali was a supreme fighter in the ring and, in some ways, a greater one out of it, taking on a US Government genuinely afraid of the power Ali had in relationship to the burgeoning black power and Civil Rights movements of the time.
Will Smith has done an incredible job of becoming Ali, beginning the transformation a full year before shooting commenced, he undertook a punishing training scheme that would see him gain 30 pounds and truly turn him into a fighter. Along with the physical demands of the role, Smith also had to master Ali’s distinctive speech patterns and mannerisms. This may seem like method gone mad, but has paid off handsomely. The movie and Smith getting the endorsement of Ali himself.
Overall, Ali is a very accomplished film, giving a reasonably rounded view of both Ali’s public and private personas and the attention to detail, particularly of the period, is impressive. Smith has captured the essence of the man beautifully, being superb in the scenes where he banters with sports commentator Howard Cossel, but exceptional in the ring. The fights are very enthralling, shot with panache and a true sense of the main event about them, Smith managing to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, seemingly taking on Ali’s style effortlessly.
Along with the talents of a very strong supporting cast, this film is a fitting tribute to a truly great man.
It’s a Knockout film, you must see it.
Thanks for reading.
The trouble with icons, however, is the fact that we get a bit precious about them, and if you’re making a movie about Ali, then you’d better get it right.
The greatest, most charismatic fighter of them all is going to need someone pretty special to do him justice. Admit it - Will Smith as Ali? Weren’t you kind of worried? A bit sceptical? Could the Fresh Prince really become King?
Director Michael Mann (who directed such films as Heat and The Insider) thought so. He had a definite agenda in his approach to the movie - wishing to neither take the docu-drama route or to idealize Ali, but to tell the story, as it was, through the eyes of Ali and those around him.
The film concentrates on the period between 1964-1974, beginning with Ali’s surprise ‘whooping’ of Sonny Liston, taking in his conversion to the Muslim faith, and his refusal to be drafted for the Vietnam War, and culminating in the infamous ‘Rumble in the Jungle’.
We truly get to see the measure of the man. Ali was a supreme fighter in the ring and, in some ways, a greater one out of it, taking on a US Government genuinely afraid of the power Ali had in relationship to the burgeoning black power and Civil Rights movements of the time.
Will Smith has done an incredible job of becoming Ali, beginning the transformation a full year before shooting commenced, he undertook a punishing training scheme that would see him gain 30 pounds and truly turn him into a fighter. Along with the physical demands of the role, Smith also had to master Ali’s distinctive speech patterns and mannerisms. This may seem like method gone mad, but has paid off handsomely. The movie and Smith getting the endorsement of Ali himself.
Overall, Ali is a very accomplished film, giving a reasonably rounded view of both Ali’s public and private personas and the attention to detail, particularly of the period, is impressive. Smith has captured the essence of the man beautifully, being superb in the scenes where he banters with sports commentator Howard Cossel, but exceptional in the ring. The fights are very enthralling, shot with panache and a true sense of the main event about them, Smith managing to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, seemingly taking on Ali’s style effortlessly.
Along with the talents of a very strong supporting cast, this film is a fitting tribute to a truly great man.
It’s a Knockout film, you must see it.
Thanks for reading.